DotScope, the quality assurance tool for printing rollers and flexo clichés

The DotScope mini is a product of SOPRIN GmbH from Germany for quality assurance of printing rollers, sleeves and plates. Based on the principle of focus variation, this mobile 3D microscope precisely determines scoop volumes, relief depths, screen ruling and other parameters. In addition to the DotScope mini, the DotScope eco and the DotScope mini 2D are also available in a reduced version.

After the DotScope has been very successfully introduced to gravure and anilox roll customers in recent years, there are now extensions for the measurement of flexographic printing plates. In addition to the fast dot percentage measurement as a pure 2D measurement, this is also possible as part of a 3D measurement. The relief depth is determined at the same time.

A very advantageous feature of 3D modeling is that previously very difficult structures, such as close-meshed FM screens with shallow depths or even directly engraved elastomer sleeves, can be measured reliably. In the course of this, a point compression simulation is possible, which determines the point increment under adjustable setting depths. Series measurement, which is highly praised by customers, is also possible for the dot% measurements, here even in mixed mode, i.e. 2D and 3D mixed. The series measurement allows to perform a large number of measurements with minimal interaction with the PC, which significantly increases the working speed. These measurements can be output afterwards e.g. as CSV file or in a common report. This can be seen in the presentation video for flexo measurement on the SOPRIN GmbH website.